Consciousness and Commissurotomy
Philosophy April 1, 1978 DOI: 10.1017/s0031819100016545
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractCommissurotomy surgery, which severs the corpus callosum, has led some philosophers to argue that it splits consciousness and the mind, threatening the ordinary concept of a person. This paper assesses that threat and argues it is overestimated. The author begins the main argument in section III, while section II describes the operation and its effects for those unfamiliar with them.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 36 |
| Key finding | The threat that commissurotomy poses to the ordinary concept of a person is overestimated. |
Abstract
Commissurotomy surgery has lately attracted considerable philosophical attention. It has seemed to some that the surgical scalpel that bisects the brain bisects consciousness and the mind as well; and that the ordinary concept of a person is thereby most seriously threatened. I shall assess the extent of the threat, arguing that it is overestimated. The argument begins with section III; section II, which describes the operation and its effects, should be omitted by those already familiar with these facts.